A recipe to stir controversy: kill and cook UVic's rabbits

By JUDITH LAVOIE, Times Colonist
March 12, 2009

A description in a university newsletter of how to kill, clean and cook the rabbits running wild on the University of Victoria's grounds has animal rights groups hopping mad.

The article -- "Cook up a pot of Rabbit Restoration Stew" -- appeared in Essence, a newsletter put out by environmental studies students.

"Kill a nice fat UVic rabbit," writes Abe Lloyd, a graduate student, who told the Times Colonist he eats about one UVic bunny a month. "Bait it in, pin it to the ground, grab it by its hind legs and whack the back of its head hard against the ground, killing it instantly."

Be discreet, however, he warns, since "some people don't enjoy the sight of a dead rabbit."

The possibility students might follow the advice horrifies Erika Paul, a B.C. SPCA animal protection officer who wants the university to immediately tell students that killing or hurting the rabbits is illegal and inhumane.

"They could be looking at charges under the Criminal Code or under the B.C. SPCA Act for causing unnecessary pain and suffering," she said. "It's outrageous."

Bashing a bunny's head on the ground is not an SPCA-approved way to kill rabbits, Paul said. "What if they saw someone doing that to a dog or a fawn?"

Paul argues trapping, spaying or neutering the animals before sending them to a new home is the only SPCA-approved way for UVic to address its bunny problems.

Carol Broad of Victoria Adoptables called the article "incredibly tasteless," adding a local veterinarian has offered to help with spaying and neutering.

But Lloyd, who is interested in wild edibles, said his solution is environmentally friendly. "From the environmental point of view, it's local and organic and no fossil fuels have been used in preparing the meat," he said in an interview.

"And from the campus management point of view I think it's preferable because they are causing a lot of damage."

Essence editor Heike Lettrari, a third-year student, emphasized the article is tongue-in-cheek, adding the aim is to provoke discussion on how to deal with the campus's large population of rabbits. Most of the rabbits are descendants of pets dumped at UVic.

"It is super-important to us to get people to critically think about these issues, so we are really excited about the response we have had," Lettrari said. "Maybe we will get a solution to the rabbit problem on campus."

UVic spokeswoman Patty Pitts said the university has an ongoing campaign telling people not to abandon rabbits and not to feed, pet or harass the bunnies.

It's not known how many rabbits live on campus, but they cause problems with landscaping and on sports fields, she said.

You can find a copy of the article on page 3 at the ESSA website at: http://web.uvic.ca/~essa/?page_id=161

Read more: www.rabbitadvocacy.com